Do College Students Need a Mental Health Coach?
Geraldine Sebastian
Regulatory Affairs Consultant - Pharma | Mental Health and Well-Being Coach
When you ask a college student why they chose their current course or program, you’ll often hear answers like, “Sabi po kasi ng Mama/Papa ko.” or “Gusto ko kasing makasama yung friends/boyfriend/girlfriend ko.” Some might even say, “Akala ko po walang math.”
How often do we hear them admit they’re unsure of what they’re truly passionate about?
Fast forward one or two semesters, and many students find themselves struggling to survive the pressures of academic life. They face an avalanche of dilemmas, many of which aren’t even directly related to their studies:
It’s no wonder that all of this can take an overwhelming toll on a student’s mental health.
A study by Argao et al. (2021) titled Mental Health Literacy & Mental Health of Filipino College Students revealed some striking insights. Filipino students generally score average on mental health literacy, but below average on the Mental Health Inventory. They report average psychological well-being, but above-average psychological distress—with no significant differences between genders.
Pascoe et al. (2019) also highlighted the profound impact of academic stress on both secondary and higher education students. Academic stress not only lowers motivation and academic performance, but it also increases the risk of school dropout. The long-term consequences, including reduced chances of sustainable employment, cost governments billions each year. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances only add fuel to this inexorable cycle of stress.
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As a new assistant instructor, I’ll admit—I didn’t fully grasp the extent of this when I first started teaching. But looking back at my own journey as a BS Pharmacy student at the University of Santo Tomas, I remember the immense struggles I faced. It wasn’t just the endless chemistry, medical jargon, or drug computations. I was also dealing with family financial instability, navigating relationships, and trying to manage my stress.
That experience made me more attuned to the challenges my students face. I realized that my role extended far beyond delivering lessons or following the curriculum. I felt a deep responsibility to empathize, to open my heart, and to walk with my students on their journey—because I knew firsthand how hard it could be.
This led me to become a Mental Health Coach, and it transformed not only my career but also my purpose in life. Through this path, I’ve been able to better understand and support my pharmacy students.
One particular story stands out to me. I once had a student who was on the verge of giving up. She had just lost her mother to breast cancer, and her father had left the family after that. As the only girl in the house, she suddenly found herself responsible for all the household chores and taking care of her brothers. It was an overwhelming shift, and it affected her academics, social life, and mental health. She started out with strong grades, but the weight of her trauma, her new responsibilities, and the overwhelming grief caused her grades to plummet. She began to distance herself from friends and peers, withdrawing from school activities because they felt like yet another burden to bear. She was struggling, flying under the radar of those around her.
When she learned that I was a mental health coach, she reached out. She was drowning in financial, academic, and emotional stress. As she shared her story with me, I listened. I helped her process her feelings and begin to accept the realities of her situation. Together, we created a plan to address her challenges step by step. Over time, she started to improve—not just academically, but personally. She reconnected with friends, regained control of her studies, and, most importantly, her mental health began to heal. She came back from the brink of suicide.
At first, her situation felt inexorable, an unbreakable downward spiral. But through mental health coaching, we were able to change her course. She is just one of many students, friends, and acquaintances I’ve been able to help through this work.
I’ve come to realize that mental health coaching isn’t just a nice-to-have for college students—it’s a lifeline. It’s something that can keep them from falling apart under the weight of their academic, personal, and emotional struggles. And with the right support, they can not only survive college—they can thrive, in both academics and life.